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The Air Defense Identification Zone is airspace over land or water in which the ready identification, location, and control of civil aircraft over land or water is required in the interest of national security. China's Defence Ministry announced its ADIZ over a vast area in the East China Sea on November 23, 2013, which covers the area around the Diaoyu islands, controlled by Japan and known as the Senkaku Islands. The establishment of this zone drew strong opposition from Japan, the US and South Korea, becoming a flashpoint in East Asian politics and security.

News›China

DEFENCE

Rescue of blazing boat by frigate seen as PLA statement in East China Sea

Swift action by PLA Navy - after Japanese had offered to assist burning Zhejiang fishing boat - seen as sign of its readiness in East China Sea

A naval frigate came to the rescue of a Zhejiang fishing boat on fire near disputed waters in the East China Sea, shedding light on the People's Liberation Army's readiness to deploy in the region amid the simmering territorial spat with Japan.

The missile frigate Zhoushan sailed at high speed for 3½ hours to reach the burning boat late on Friday, 280 kilometres west-northwest of Amami-Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture.

It arrived ahead of three Japanese coastguard patrol ships that responded to an earlier request by China for help, according to mainland media and Japan's Kyodo news agency. Xinhua reported six of the 24 people aboard died in the blaze.

Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the presence of the Zhoushan had indicated the PLA's air and sea readiness after Beijing announced the creation of an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in November. The zone includes the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan, and has drawn protests from Tokyo.

Xinhua said yesterday that the Zhoushan had received a distress signal at 4.30pm on Friday after a fire broke out on the Chinese fishing boat Zhelingyu 90058.

It said the East Sea Fleet, which oversees the East China Sea, then sent the Zhoushan from a destroyer force patrolling nearby waters to take part in the rescue.

The navy's website said the Zhoushan had met two Chinese vessels at 9.20pm and began a joint rescue operation. One sailor with severe burns was taken to the warship for treatment by doctors and medical staff on board.

The Zhoushan later sailed for more than 10 hours to take the injured sailor to a military hospital, while the other 17 sailors were believed to be returning to port after their boat was repaired, mainland media reported.

Kyodo said the Japanese coastguard had sent three patrol ships and one jet to rescue the Chinese fishing crew after it received an SOS signal on Friday.

But later the Chinese authorities told the Japanese their ships would take care of the rescue, and the three Japanese vessels turned back halfway.

"The result is predictable because our warship is obviously much faster than Japanese coastguard patrol ships," Li said. "The PLA has strengthened its maritime operations since the establishment of the ADIZ, including naval drills and other non-traditional military exercises."

Professor Ni Lexiong , a Shanghai-based naval expert, said Japan would be wary after the PLA's fast reaction.

"The Japanese coastguard should be aware that it appears the PLA navy treated this rescue as a live drill - and they performed pretty well," he said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Warship rescues blaze boat near disputed waters

What is it with all these PLA "sending a message" stories? First we get the nonsense about how a frigate in Victoria Harbour is a signal to Occupy Central. Next we get a standard ordinary rescue mission as some sort of 'message'.The SCMP is really trying to trump up a non-story for what ends?

jiawang@****** Feb 9th 201410:00am

China makes a hugh mistake in believing its own propaganda.

lucifer Feb 9th 20147:42am

Normally, the badly injured should be airlifted by helicopter to the nearest hospital. I find it odd that they sailed for 10 hours to get to a port to treat a severely burned patient. To me, this shows that some logistical capabilities are lacking. Moreover the cost of the journey to bring the patient back to port was huge compared to a helo flight. Destroyers nowadays can travel 30-35 knots, with an average speed of 26 knots. At that speed it means they traveled only around 300-360 miles, which is well within the range of any Naval helicopter. China's KA-28 & 31 have a range of 559 miles, while the Z-9 has a range of 621 miles. What was the problem?-- But none f that matters, because most of the reporting comes from XinHua, which means it's mostly propaganda and BS. Anyway, first they asked the Japanese for help, then they decided that they could do it.....noted.

nicolas Feb 9th 20144:54pm

another DAMN and B...S... story from the communist ...

lexishk Feb 9th 20144:02pm

Stinks like a stunt, and ended up as one whatever its beginnings thanks to the Chinese propaganda machine.

realestate Feb 9th 201411:51am

How sad even in a genuine case of an accident China's credibility is always in doubt?

A recue with injured and dying people is alledged to be propaganda, shame!
When you say propaganda it is yours propaganda, not other people's.
The only thing I might agree is: there is some logistic capability lacking in the Chinese, the helicopter lifting!

dharmakarma Feb 9th 201412:19pm

what a bunch of bull

amunro Feb 9th 20148:50am

Accident my a$$. Total setup.

elly.sy.71 Feb 10th 20143:03am

Hahaha! Poor chinese pawns got sacrificed just to show to the world about "PLA's air and sea readiness "